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OUTING REPORT:

Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) celebrated Matthew Keene’s completion on Monday of a 1,600-mile sea kayaking trip around Florida’s peninsula. For the full story, see http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2009/01/0106_01.htm

PADDLING NEWS:

Paddling Workouts
We continue our paddling workouts on the Winter Park chain of lakes, Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Email me for times. These are workout paddles, however the range of abilities and speed varies. All are welcome. The number of paddlers joining us is growing. Right now we have Mabel Magarinos, Steve Miller, Rod Price, Jonnie Dawn, Greg Stamer, Dave Knothe, Marty Sullivan, and Maura Smith.

FCPA Races, Anyone?
Maura and I will be paddling our new West Side Boat Shop tandem kayak in many of the FCPA races this year. If you're interested in going to a race, email me and perhaps we can car pool.

CLUBS AND CONTACTS:

Lakeside Kayaks & Outdoor Center, Tavares, Fl. down from Wooten Park on Lake Dora on the corner of Joanna and Ruby street. Call for a demo, 407-321-7188 0R 352-253-0900. Several specialty kayaks, from fiberglass seakayaks, downriver kayaks and racing K-1 kayaks. These are kayaks that you will not find in your regular stores. These kayaks have been specially made and imported. Martha Carswell, www.wekivaadventures.com

 

For outings, camping trips, etc. check out Mabel's Yahoo site: Central Florida Sea Kayakers, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CentralFloridaSeaKayakers/

 

"Meetup" activities:
For more information and upcoming events see The Florida Kayak/Canoe Meet Up, http://seakayaking.meetup.com/48/ .

EVENTS AND RACES:

WaterTribe Challenge:
WaterTribe events, start from St. Petersburg Fort Desoto Park on March 7, 2009. Marathon: 65 miles, to Placida (near Boca Grande). Everglades Challenge: 300 miles, to Key Largo. For more info see http://www.watertribe.com or contact me. These races are challenging. Completing any of these events is a proud and humbling experience in which you will gain respect for the water and for yourself. The events are open to any non-motorized craft, including sailboats, that can be hand-launched off the beach. Entry deadline is January 31, so if you're considering it and want more info, contact me. Several of our newsletter subscribers are participating, including me.

 

Florida Competition Paddlers Events:
Feb 8, 2009, 11 am, Wakulla River Race, Tallahassee, FL, 11.6 miles, Contact Jack Toth, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 850-644-0854, 850-350-9551

Feb 14, 2009, 11 am, Jensen Classic, Weeki Wachee, FL (Rogers Park), Contact Karl/Cindy Vogel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 727-938-7685

Feb 28, 2009, 9:30 am, Crisp Park Race, 10 miles, contact John Edwards, 727-459-6366, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mar. 14, 10:00 am, Great Pickle Race (Hillsborough River), Tampa. Contact Glennis Williams, 727-455-9188, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mar 21, 2009, 10:00 am, Manatee Run, Ft. Myers, FL, 10 miles, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 727-459-6366 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 727-455-9188

April 4, 2009, 10:00 am, Rainbow River Race, Dunellon, FL, 10 miles. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 727-459-6366 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 727-455-9188

April 25, 2009, 32nd Annual Wild Hog Obstacle Race, Otter Creek, FL, 10 miles. Contact www.wildhog.wetpaint.com or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

May 17, 2009, Wekiva River Race, Sanford, FL, 14 miles. Contact Martha Carswell, 407-321-7188 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

June 7, 2009, 10 am, Wascissa River Race, Tallahassee, 10 miles, Contact George Blakely, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 850-385-4974

June 11-14, 2009, Sunshine State Games, Winter Haven, FL, sprint Saturday, marathon Sunday. Contact John Edwards, 727-459-6366 or

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

July 12, 2009, Mere Mortals Race, Suwannee River Park, FL, 10 miles. Contact Larry Frederick, 352-495-9846 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sep. 19, 2009, Tarpon Springs Puffer Fish Race, Tarpon Spr., FL, Contact Karl/Cindy Vogel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 727-938-7685

Oct. 4, 2009, 10 am, Santa Fe River Canoe & Kayak Race, Rum Island Park, FL (near White Springs), 12 or 6 miles, Contact Tim Dodge, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 352-371-9428, 352-318-5877

Nov. 1, 2009, 10 am, Paddle of the Pass, Matlacha Park, Pine Island, FL, 10 or 4 miles, Contact Nancy MacPhee 239-707-7275

Dec 5, 2009, Silver River Race/Annual Awards, Silver Springs, FL, 10 miles. Contact Bert and Dick Kloss, 352-546-3950

 

April 17, Ultimate Hugh Heward Challenge (UHHC) 2009. We invite experienced and adventurous paddlers to participate in the retracing of an historic 1790 canoe journey from Detroit to Chicago via the Detroit River, Lake Erie, the Huron and Grand Rivers of Lower Michigan, and Lake Michigan. The trip will start at Detroit on April 17 2009 and end at Chicago approximately three weeks and 475 miles later. Contact Mark Przedwojewski, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 231-266-2089

 

April 18 & 19, 2009, Shark Bite Challenge, 2009, 12 or 8 or 4 miles, Honeymoon Island State Park, FL, as part of Earth Days Festival. Contact Karen/Rob Mirlenbrink This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 727-510-3493

 

April 18, 8:30 (10-mile) and 9:30 (4-mile): 3rd Annual St. Johns River Paddle Battle, at Blue Spring State Park, Deland, organized by me in conjunction with the Park and the CSO. The 4-mile race will proceed upstream (south) from the Park for 2 miles then return downstream. The 10-mile race, as last year, will circumnavigate Hontoon Island including the twisty, wild Snake Creek. The major sponsor, Travel Country of Altamonte Springs, is donating a kayak to be raffled; raffle ticket is included with entry fee. Registration forms are available at Travel Country (407-831-0777), by email from me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or at the Blue Spring State Park web site, http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/.

 

June 6, 12th St Johns River Cleanup in conjunction with National River Cleanup Week. For more information please see:  http://volusia.org/cleanup/

 

West Coast Offshore Series for OC1, OC6 and Surfskis: contact Rob Mirlenbrink, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Short races, generally downwind, in open water.

 

East Coast Offshore Series, every Saturday, Miami. Contact Tim Streeter This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 786-208-8458

PREPARATION

Hypothermia
Hypothermia can happen here in Florida. I have been snug in my kayak in chilly, say 50 degrees, weather and perfectly comfortable while paddling along. My lower body, encased in the kayak with a spray skirt, was warm enough that blood was near the surface of my legs. Upon beaching and exiting the kayak, I was shivering almost uncontrollably in about 20 seconds. I believe that the warm blood in my legs cooled quickly and recirculated to my core. Combined with stopping my exertion, I chilled almost instantly.

My solution is to have dry, warm clothes close at hand in a dry bag, and my first action upon landing is to completely strip and don the dry clothes. Depending on wind and temperature, wool or fleece combined with a wind shell is usually enough in Florida winters.

A capsize can lead to severe problems when hypothermia clouds judgement and hinders coordination and strength. It's recommended that you dress for immersion if hypothermia is a potential problem. Water temperature in the Gulf is often in the 50s during the winter, and that can be trouble.

Hypothermia kills when our body's temperature dips below a tipping point where our enzymes can't convert food to energy and heat. Once the enzymes fail, body temperature continues to drop even if you're bundled in a minus-20-degree down bag. This is because your body cannot generate heat. The only way to survive is to have an external supply of heat. This can be heater packs under the arms and in the thighs, a campfire, a naked body with you in the down bag, hot beverages, or even a candle in conjunction with a space blanket. I once spent a few hours in a county park rest room running the hand dryer blower down my pants and up my shirt (it worked).

There are many articles on how to combat hypothermia and to dress for immersion. I highly recommend the compilation of stories in the book Deep Trouble (Broze & Gronseth, 1997, Ragged Mountain Press). Many of the stories' situations are due to cold and hypothermia, and the "Lessons Learned" are invaluable.

Here's a story of hypothermia in Tampa Bay near St. Petersburg: http://www.post-trib.com/lifestyles/1360675,hypotherm.article

Rescue Controversy
An unprepared kayaker got into trouble off Florida's east coast when he was unable to paddle back to shore. He called 911 and was rescued 9 miles off shore. What should he have done to be prepared? Should he have been charged for the rescue operation? What is your opinion? For the full story see http://www.wftv.com/news/18432343/detail.html .

The purpose of this newsletter is to help people get together for outings and to share information about gear, paddling locations and events, and anything else of interest to the paddling community. There will be no club, corporation, by-laws, or affiliation related to this sharing of information. Postings will be non-solicitous. Email addresses will not be shared without your individual, explicit permission. This approach to information sharing has been wildly successful in the bicycling community, and this newsletter is such an attempt for the paddling community. You may subscribe by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Please include your first and last name with your request.

Thanks for your interest. Marty Sullivan